Calibrachoa plant named ‘01C-J-6’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘01C-J-6’, characterized by its semi-prostrate, low mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; dark yellow-colored flowers with darker yellow-colored throats; and good weather tolerance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar01C-J-6.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘01C-J-6’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventors in Tochigi-ken, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new early-flowering Calibrachoa cultivars that havestronger growth habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventors in the Autumn of 2000, in Tochigi-ken, Japan, of theCalibrachoa cultivar Sunbelki, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,558,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Calibrachoa selectionidentified as code number 99-2-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventorsas a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Tochigi-ken,Japan, on Jul. 15, 2001. The selection of this plant was based on itsstrong plant growth habit and attractive flower coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Tochigi-ken, Japan, since Aug. 10, 2001, hasshown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar 01C-J-6 have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘01C-J-6’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘01C-J-6’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa:

-   -   1. Semi-prostrate, low mounding and outwardly spreading plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Dark yellow-colored flowers with darker yellow-colored        throats.    -   5. Good weather tolerance; tolerant to wind, rain, and low and        high temperatures.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa are most similar to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Sunbelki. In side-by-side comparisons conducted bythe Inventors in Tochigi-ken, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoadiffered from plants of the cultivar Sunbelki in the floweringcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were not as prostrate in plant        habit as plants of the cultivar Sunbelki.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants        of the cultivar Sunbelki.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelki        differed in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Sunbelki        had lighter yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventorsin Tochigi-ken, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed fromplants of the male parent selection in the flowering characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.

Compared to plants of the cultivar 01C-J-4, disclosed in a U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 10/919,013, plants of the new Calibrachoaflower earlier and differ in flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘01C-J-6’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowersof ‘01C-J-6’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown inone-gallon containers were used for the aforementioned photographs andthe following description. Plants were grown under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production conditions during the springin Santa Paula, Calif. in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. Plants wereabout five months old when the photographs and description were taken.During the production period, day temperatures ranged from 16 to 29° C.,night temperatures ranged from 4 to 13° C., and maximum light levelsranged from 3,000 to 6,000 footcandles.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar 01C-J-6.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Sunbelki,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,558.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 99-2-3, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 5 days at 25° C.            Winter: About 8 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—Summer: About three            weeks at 25° C. Winter: About four weeks at 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, and white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; semi-prostrate, low mounding            and outwardly spreading plant habit; dense and bushy            appearance.        -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About            22 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to rapid; vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching, about six to seven            basal branches per plant; lateral branches develop at            potentially every node; pinching is typically not required.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 38 cm. Diameter:            About 4.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Orientation:            Initially upright, then nearly horizontal to trailing.            Texture: Pubescent; short, fine hairs. Strength: Strong, but            flexible. Color: 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternative before            flowering; when flowering, opposite; simple. Length: About            2.2 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Apex:            Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Slightly glandular and slightly            pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate; arcuate. Color:            Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 146A.            Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 146B.            Venation, upper surface: 146A. Venation, lower surface:            146D. Petiole length: About 5 mm. Petiole diameter: About            2 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            pubescent. Petiole color, upper surface: 146C. Petiole            color, lower surface: 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers face upright or outwardly;            flowers solitary and axillary; salverform. Freely flowering            habit, about 45 to 50 flowers per lateral stem. Flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn;            flowering continuous during this period.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about one month after            planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.8 cm by 3 cm. Depth: About            2.5 cm. Tube length: About 1.7 cm. Throat diameter: About            6 mm. Tube diameter, proximal: About 3 mm.        -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Length: About            2.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Elongate. Color: 11B.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five            petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.2 cm. Petal width: About 1.8 cm. Petal shape:            Fan-shaped to obovate. Petal apex: Rounded to obtuse. Petal            margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Petal, when opening, upper            surface: 12A; venation, 172B. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: 19B; venation, 172D. Petal, fully opened flower,            upper surface: 12C; towards throat, 13B; venation, 173B to            173C. Main color becoming closer to 12C to 12D with            development. Petal, fully opened flower, lower surface: 27C;            venation, 173D. Flower throat (inside): 13A; venation, 172A.            Flower tube (outside): 12C; venation, 172A to 172B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals            fused at base; star-shaped. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Developing and fully expanded, upper surface: 144A.            Developing and fully expanded, lower surface: 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Angle: About 45° from stem. Texture:            Finely pubescent. Color: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.            Anther color: 11A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 144A. Style            length: About 9 mm. Style color: 145C. Ovary color: 145A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa.-   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa are    tolerant to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from 3 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘01C-J-6’, asillustrated and described.